Tinsel garland



M. J. REINER TINSEL GARLAND Oct. 18, 1932.

Filed April 13, 1931 M%' M INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 18, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT oFF cE MARTIN J. REINER, OF FORT WAYNE, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR T GENERAL CABLE CORPORATION, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW' JERSEY TINSEL GARLAND Application filed April 13,

This invention relates to improvements in tinsel garland for use in making festoons and for other decorative displays. One of the objects of the invention is to provide a garland structure having an improved and more pleasing appearance. Another object of the invention is to provide a garland structure so constituted as to present rays of reflected light that are distinctive from each other, whereby the general appearance and effectiveness of the garland are enhanced. Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear in the following description.

An illustrative embodiment of the inven tion selected merely for the purposes of description is shown in the accompanying drawing, in which Figs. 1 and 2 are views of one of the tinsel strips used in the garland structure, an edge and a flat face of the strip being respectively shown;

Figs. 3 and 4 are similar views of another tinsel strip differing in character from that shown in Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 5 is a cross section of the strip shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the view being drawn upon I an increased scale;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary View of a garland embodying the invention, the tinsel strips being illustrated in conventional arrangement so as to show the relative positions of the various tinsel strips that are supported by the stranded cord; and

Fig. 7 is a cross section of the garland.

The views are drawn upon enlargedscales, and parts, especially those forming the stranded cord or core in which the tinsel strips are entwined and by which the strips are supported, are shown disproportionately larger than in the actual structure.

The illustrative embodiment of the invention consists of a garland constituted of a. core 1 formed of a group of strands such as 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 twisted together and forming a continuous cord, and a succession of tinsel strips, the middle portions of which are entwined with the strands of the cord. The extending ends of the strips constitute bristles 8 and 9 that project radially from 1931. Serial NO. 529,630.

the cord in various directions as in the usual garland structure of similar type. Also, the stranded cord is formed and the bristlesare incorporated with the cord by means of suitable machinery operated in any convenient 5 manner. V

One of the characteristic features of the illustrative embodiment lies in grouping together in connection with the supporting core tinsel strips of differing light reflecting qualities interspersed amongst each other so that the garland is enveloped by rays of reflected light which tend to promote the appearance of density and whiteness of. the reflected light about the garland structure without impairing its brilliancy.

To effect such appearance some of the bristles 8 are formed of tinsel strips 8 of the type illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4 which are characterized by corrugations, indenta 7 tions, facets or protuberances 10 disposed in close formation along the wide faces of the strips, while other of the bristles 9 are formed of tinsel strips 9 of the type shown in F i 's. 1 and 2 which are characterized by their plain, smooth and brightsurfaces.

The tinsel strips 8 may be prepared conveniently by passing a strip of plain bright tinsel of indefinite length between revolving wheels, (not shown) the perimeters of which so are circumferentially alined, their faces being suitablyengraved or otherwise roughened, preferably so as to present a definite design, whereby when the tinsel strip is drawn between the wheels the wide faces of the strip become knurled or impressedin' such manner as to present a multiplicity of miniature light reflecting surfaces or points; which, merely for convenience in descrip'fl. tion, may be referred to as facets. The continuity of the plain faces of the initial tinsel is thus broken up so the light rays reflected therefrom are correspondingly numerous and various with respect to direction.

As the bristles 9 thatare formed ..of the tinsel strips 9 present faces that are flat and unbroken, the reflections of light rays from the flat surfaces of said bristles are corre spondingly unbroken, and are greater .iin volume than those individual reflections from the comparatively smaller reflecting facets or points 011 the knurled bristles.

The garland is preferably formed so that its knurled bristles 8 are numerically greater than the plain bristles 9. For instance, for each plain bristle in the garland structure four knurled bristles may be incorporated therein. Their numerical ratio, however, may be varied and the plain bristles may be more or less indiscriminately mixed amongst the knurled bristles, whereby an optimum effect simulating frost is produced.

The light rays reflected from the knurled bristles are so numerous, close together, and difl'used that a whiteness appears concen trated about the garland, which tends to obscure the core thereof. The light reflections from the plain bristles, however, are more or less scattered throughout the rays of te knurled bristles, and are individually so concentrated and brilliant that the rays thereof are clearly distinguishable from the rays reflected from the knurled bristles. Thus, when the garland is illuminated, there ap pears about its core a haze of minute reflections of light from which gleam scattered individual shafts of reflected light which add luster and attractiveness to its general appearance.

The foregoing description of an embodiment of the invention is illustrative merely, and is not intended to define the limits of the invention.

I claim:

1. A garland structure having a core and amultiplicity of outwardly extending bristles formed of tinsel strips supported by said core, some of said bristles being characterized by having numerous minute reflecting surfaces, and other of said bristles being characterized by having plain reflecting 5111'". faces.

2. A garland having numerous bristles formed of knurled tinsel strips to provide a multiplicity of minute reflecting facets, and other bristles formed of plain tinsel strips interspersed amongst the knurled bristles to provide reflecting surfaces substantially larger than said facets.

3. A garland having numerous knurled tinsel bristles extending outwardly from its core to provide a multiplicity of minute reflecting facets, and anumber of plain tinsel bristles interspersed amongst the knurled bristles, the reflecting surfaces of which are substantially larger than said facets, whereby the rays of said plain bristles are distinguishable from the rays of said knurled bristles.

4:. A garland having a core and numerous tinsel bristles extending from said core and provided with minute reflecting facets, and also other tinsel bristles interspersed amongst the former bristles having plain reflecting surfaces, said facets being so numerous, close together and the reflections of light therefrom being so diffused that said reflections are not individually distinguishable, while said other bristles are so few, far apart, and the reflections of light therefrom so voluminous and so concentrated that the reflections therefrom are individually distinguishable from the reflections of the first mentioned bristles.

5. A garland having a core, numerous bristles projecting outwardly from the coreformed of tinsel strips and characterized by their light reflecting surfaces which are so prepared that a multiplicity of minute reflections produce a diffused light when the garland is illuminated, and other bristles interspersed amongst the former bristles characterized by their light reflecting surfaces which are so prepared that the reflections therefrom are fewer, conspicuously larger and more concentrated than said minute reflections and are individually distinguish'able.

6. A garland structure consisting of a core and an unequal number of knurled and plain tinsel strips supported by the core to provide bristles of different light reflecting characteristics.

7. A garland having numerous knurled and plain interspersed tinsel strips extending from its core to provide bristles differing distinctively in light reflecting characteristics.

8. A garland the bristlesof which are formed of tinsel strips the greater number of which are characteristic in having multitudinous minute light reflecting surfaces, the other bristles being fewer and characteristic in having comparatively large unbroken reflecting surfaces.

9. A garland the bristles of which are formed of tinsel strips of two distinctive types, those of one type being more numerous than those of the other type and characteristic in having multitudinous minute light reflecting surfaces and being disposed in groups, the other bristles being interspersed amongst said groups and characteristic in having comparatively large, plain reflecting surfaces.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

MARTIN J. REINER. 

